"Well, this settles it: there is definitely something in the water in Wales. It does something to musicians. I’m not saying it’s bad, and I’m not saying it’s good, but it’s definitely a bit odd. As a case in point, I present Trwbador (I don’t claim to speak or read Cymraeg, but I’m guessing that’s like “troubadour”). Brace yourself for a touch of the surreal.
Trwbador is duo Owain Gwilym and Angharad Van Rijswijk, who hail from Carmarthenshire in the south west. I’m fairly confident that it’s Angharad who does the singing, although there’s a moment of formant-warping tomfoolery at the end of “Red Handkerchiefs” that did make me wonder. The pair deftly weave eerie loops with whimsical lyrics to give an effect not unlike the sickly-sweet creepiness of Grimm’s Fairy Tales.
“All animals are friends of mine,” sings Angharad; “meat is murder, but it tastes so fine.” It might seem like a cutesy little nursery rhyme for a moment, but no – it’s about devouring flesh. If Roald Dahl had written pop songs, I imagine they would have sounded something like this. The effect is only amplified by Angharad’s voice, which is simultaneously dreamy and terrifying. Meanwhile, a demonic organ drones.
If this all sounds critical, it’s not. Sure, they’ll probably keep me up all night, or at least give me nightmares about dolls and cannibal puppies, but at root Trwbador make really good folky electronica (no, I won’t call it folktronica). The lyrics are as smart as they’re quirky, obliquely hinting at topics as diverse as climate change and the financial crisis without ever preaching, and the arrangements are deceptively intricate. They’re reminiscent of “Further”-era Flying Saucer Attack, albeit without thirty layers of reverb looming over the mix.
The new EP, “Sun In The Winter”, is due for release on the 1st of August, but you can stream the whole thing over on Soundcloud and even download the title track below. Huw Stephens likens them to Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, who admittedly I had never heard of until now. There’s a very definite air of CocoRosie, a touch of Boards Of Canada, and even the odd hint of Freelance Whales - especially on the more upbeat “Onions Make Me Cry”. Creepy as they can be, Trwbador have hit on a good sound; I’m looking forward to more" (Vía: listenbeforeyoubuy.net)
Connect with Trwbador – Facebook Twitter Website Soundcloud
Trwbador is duo Owain Gwilym and Angharad Van Rijswijk, who hail from Carmarthenshire in the south west. I’m fairly confident that it’s Angharad who does the singing, although there’s a moment of formant-warping tomfoolery at the end of “Red Handkerchiefs” that did make me wonder. The pair deftly weave eerie loops with whimsical lyrics to give an effect not unlike the sickly-sweet creepiness of Grimm’s Fairy Tales.
“All animals are friends of mine,” sings Angharad; “meat is murder, but it tastes so fine.” It might seem like a cutesy little nursery rhyme for a moment, but no – it’s about devouring flesh. If Roald Dahl had written pop songs, I imagine they would have sounded something like this. The effect is only amplified by Angharad’s voice, which is simultaneously dreamy and terrifying. Meanwhile, a demonic organ drones.
If this all sounds critical, it’s not. Sure, they’ll probably keep me up all night, or at least give me nightmares about dolls and cannibal puppies, but at root Trwbador make really good folky electronica (no, I won’t call it folktronica). The lyrics are as smart as they’re quirky, obliquely hinting at topics as diverse as climate change and the financial crisis without ever preaching, and the arrangements are deceptively intricate. They’re reminiscent of “Further”-era Flying Saucer Attack, albeit without thirty layers of reverb looming over the mix.
The new EP, “Sun In The Winter”, is due for release on the 1st of August, but you can stream the whole thing over on Soundcloud and even download the title track below. Huw Stephens likens them to Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci, who admittedly I had never heard of until now. There’s a very definite air of CocoRosie, a touch of Boards Of Canada, and even the odd hint of Freelance Whales - especially on the more upbeat “Onions Make Me Cry”. Creepy as they can be, Trwbador have hit on a good sound; I’m looking forward to more" (Vía: listenbeforeyoubuy.net)
Connect with Trwbador – Facebook Twitter Website Soundcloud
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